In Response: 2010 Offseason Primer

We need to sing a big bat. Holliday?

Im totally cool with alternate/more valuable FAs, just as long as they dont block anyones development, NOT FOR ONE DAY!! I understand I keep a lot of lackluster talent on the roster, but thats just a stop gap, rather than a blocking measure. Feel me?

thats less replaceable, for the A’s, by comparrason. Petit is replaceable by kids just like him, speedy RHB utility guy, in the A’s system. Carter is the ONLY other real RHB prospect with power in the system.

and thats valuable for the A’s, as there is no one else able to fill that role as of yet. And, like I said, he sells tix….

Im totally down with a better/more expensive FA pitcher, but we both know Lew and Billy are cheap, and while we might like better, Tomko is the likely fit for the cost.

to figure out what you actually have and then target free agents to fill the gaps in 2011.

Right now we don’t know if Barton will stick at 1B, or Hairston, Sweeney or Davis will stick in the OF. Or if Wallace can survive at 3rd or if Pennington is for real etc etc.

Our whole team is a giant question mark.

So run them out there and swap in guys like Patterson and Cunningham frequently enough and then make some hard decisions about who is going to be a part of the future and build for 2011.

Thats what I think they should do. Signing vets and giving little playing time to young guys so they can all go Travis Buck on us, gets us no closer in 2011. I could handle 1 or 2 FA signings if they aren’t long term or are awesome not too old players. The later would be tough because they will cost too much and if it doesn’t work out we are screwed.

The alternative is to make some trades to cut down on the OF prospects and pick up some infield depth or maybe even some star power if possible. Without a trade, you can’t liberally add FAs to this roster.

I’d be interested in what other people think about that option. Personally, I’m probably biased against him because I live on the south side of Chicago and have seen too many White Sox fans who thought he was the greatest thing since the deep dish pizza.

But now his stock has fallen considerably and he might be affordable. I doubt that his power would translate well to Oakland, but he is a good defender at 3rd. So defense, bad OBP, maybe a little power if we get lucky, and that special affinity that we all have for injury prone types?

hmmm… I guess I really haven’t been paying attention to Crede lately, because rotowire says he is contemplating retirement due to back problems. So maybe take back everything I just said.

Mazarro had arm/nerve issues at the end of the season, and thats not good. The A’s are gonna be really careful with him to start, which makes a Tomko like veteran all the more important to prop up the rotation. We also have no Idea about Outman and how long he will take.

I too, would love to resign Duke, but he having serious mental issues that are way more important than baseball. Also, HE HATES THE BULLPEN, so I doubt he would resign knowing thats where he would end up when Vin or Outman are ready. I would also take Randy, but he comes with huge injury risk, and Im not the type of person to sign a guy to be a steady veteran, only to be constantly worried he will fall apart from old age. It doesn’t have to be Tomko, but he’s a better option than these two IMO.

Next, you left one player out of the logjam you describe, Barton. If/When Carter and Wallace arrive, Wallace will play 3B. GUARANTEED! It has been made clear he is gonna get all the opportunity in the world, and apparently he has been busting his tail to get better and its paying off. That leaves Carter, Barton, and Cust for 1B and DH. If Barton can keep hitting the way he finished 2009, Cust will be relegated to the bench as a PH, Barton will play 1B, and Carter will DH. Its likely Cust would be traded by the deadline too. Its a matter of costs bro, and Cust will be more expensive than Barton, Wallace, and Carter combined, AND FOR WHAT?

Carter may split time between DH and OF, but only sparingly. And, HAVE YOU SEEN CARTER? He is very lean, and very athletic. A leaner Ryan Howard. With work, he capable of playing a respectable OF, on occasion, but I doubt that will be necessary or wanted given the plethora of talent working for their shot in the OF.

As for 3B, like I said, Wallace is greatly improved, and until he gets his chance and fails miserably, hes the man at 3B. Cardenas will only get a legit shot if Wallace fails. I am however, totally cool with any of those FAs if they dont block prospects when the time comes. I refuse to stall young talent for more RENT-A-VETERANS.

If a manager is going to prefer bad veterans to an untested youngster, they’re going to prefer decent, if unremarkable, veterans to an even larger degree.

I’d prefer decent to bad, obviously, but I’d like short-term commitment to said veteran most of all.

Who would you prefer…..

It’s hard to take someone seriously when his/her/its choice of user name looks like something from a 5-year-old spam e-mail.

but I want some graham crackers.

Anyway, from the player’s point of view, I’d think it’s better not to be protected, right?

I mean, what’s the downside in being taken by another team in rule 5? If they follow through, you get a lot of major league salary and benefits. If they don’t, then you’re no worse off than you were before.

and am fine with swapping AK and Tomko for better, more expensive options. But, I will not be the only A’s fan who’s gonna be ticked off if Wallace, Carter, Desme, or Doolittle are stuck in AAA to the detriment of the future of the organization, all so some Rent-A-Veteran can get his swings in.

Also, do you really think we are gonna make the playoffs, let alone win the WS, by adding one big bat, and one pretty good veteran pitcher? I don’t. In fact, the only chance I see of that happening is if our young talent actually plays and grows together over 2010, so we can really start to compete in 2011 and beyond.

True, if Billy had 25 million to work with, he could go out and piece together a really competitive team in the short term. But by allowing these kids all the opportunity to get a ton of ABs at the major league level in 2010 and 2011, we could be more than competitive, WE COULD BE A CONTENDER AGAIN, and we haven’t seen that in a really long time, say 2003.

I guess Im tired of thinking small/short term competitiveness, at the expense of long term possible greatness.

Braden-Anderson-Cahill-Gio-Mazzaro need those starts, and then we have Outman coming back hopefully good as new by August. I dont think sending any of those guys down is a smart option unless they have completely lost their way, and seeing as the offseason is here, they can work on their issues now.

I guess what Im asking here is how is Brett Tomko a better option than Dana Eveland, James Simmons or Clay Mortensen? Or any number of other bargain bin options for that matter? He somehow pitched 36 innings of great ball last year in meaningless games, that shouldnt impress as many people as it seemingly does.